MPAT – MULTI-PLATFORM APPLICATION TOOLKIT:BUILD SMALL HBBTV APPS QUICKLY

WITH A WORDPRESS BASED TOOLKIT

MPAT allows content creators to produce the HbbTV-equivalent of ‘micro- sites’ in a cost-e�icient way while removing worries about compatibility with existing devices. The toolkit provides tested templates and plug-ins that can be easily adapted to a channel or programme design. A set of plug-ins allows the provision of common application features ‘out of the box’.

The Smart TV market is growing rapidly. According to the HD Forum, 14.4 million HbbTV devices are already deployed in Germany, reaching more than 30 million users, with a growth of about 3 million devices per year predicted by Deutsche TV Platform for the next decade. HbbTV, therefore, provides a relevant channel for media companies to deliver interactive content to TVs.

Currently, HbbTV applications mostly require customized implementations. The cost for doing so can usually be justified for large HbbTV applications (such as a broadcaster’s main Red Button Portal) and advertising campaigns, but not for smaller, theme or programme specific sites or sub-sites.

MPAT takes up the concept of web-page creation tools like WordPress, which allow users to easily build a small to medium web site from pre-defined templates and plug-ins, and adapts it to HbbTV.

Content producers can use the WordPress based UI to select a template, adapt the look to their needs, add their content either directly or from an existing CMS and select plug-ins to provide additional functionality. Depending on the broadcaster’s workflow, the resulting HbbTV application can be directly served by MPAT or exported to an existing production system.

The MPAT project is funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme under grant agreement 687921. Duration: December 2015 – November 2017

External CMS API

External CMS

Admin UI

Editor UI

Content DB

Consumer

Plug-InDeveloper

Content Generator

Technical Admin

ContentEditor

Plug-InsPlug-In

Theme Designer & Developer

Themes

On-Demand

Live

Open Web Platform

HbbTV 2.0

HbbTV 1.x

Editor view

Broadcast appliction

Project coordinator http://mpat.eu

With MPAT, media companies can semi-automatically author their set of customised applications, which are then populated with content by the editorial sta� or by linking MPAT to existing content management solutions. The open- source MPAT core will provide all the essential features to create compelling multi- screen experiences for HbbTV and other HTML5-based devices.

As the pre-defined elements are tested against the most relevant TV devices on the market, using MPAT also reduces the risk of creating applications that have unexpected behaviour on end-user devices, reducing the e�ort spent on pre- deployment testing.

A predecessor of MPAT, named HAT (developed in the FI-CONTENT 2 project) has already been used to provide a child-friendly sub-site for a German public broadcaster (“Sandmännchen App”) and a dedicated to information about an individual TV series (“Verknallt und abgedreht”).

MPAT will create the technical core as well as the business foundation for a new ecosystem focussing on the design and creation of attractive TV multiscreen applications.

Fast and easy creation of HbbTV applications

Best suited for small applications (1-10 screens)

Can be extended to produce web pages or other SmartTV apps from the same template

Uses the popular WordPress tool for providing the UI

Separation of content, look and functionality

Works with WordPress as a CMS

MPAT key points Will also support other CMSs in the broadcaster’s environment

Abstracts from specific end-device (HbbTV 1.0, 1.5, 2.0,...)

Second device supported as control and presentation device

Provides a set of customizable templates

Plug-ins for Chat, Vote/ Quizzes, Image Gallery, Video Gallery

Plug-ins tested against available smart TV devices

Available as So�ware as a Service (hosted) or for local installation